Started with Human Meter today, BUT.......

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Sarah & Jackie

Sarah & Jackie

Member Since 2015
Okay, so today was the first time I used the Relion Meter. Unfortunately, had still not received the control solution for this mornings AMPS. I got it in the mail today and first thing I notice is that the package insert names the meters it is meant to be used with and my Confirm is not among them. Went ahead and did the control test anyway and results did not fall within the prescribed range. Repeated the control test and still not in the range. So, I will call them tomorrow and request they try again, but most certainly won't receive it until at least midweek next week. At this point, I don't feel comfortable in trusting any numbers I get from this meter.

Once I can test the meter with the correct solution, should I continue using the same spreadsheet that I started using the AlphaTrak or start anew? Whichever I do, I would like to be able to periodically insert the top headings, as some of you have done. How do you do this?

The more I am reading, the more unsure of myself I am becoming. I'm sorry to be so dense and needy bit I feel like I need further advice as to how I should proceed with getting useful information. To get a couple of initial guiding cycles, what would the suggestions be about how often to feed and how much in relation to tests, and how frequent should those tests be? Should I completely with hold/delay some feedings, and how do I know which ones, if so?

I think that initially I would be more comfortable with the SLGS method until I can get my boys numbers a little less scary, but would welcome your thoughts on whether that seems prudent.........I'm scared and feeling lost....Just don"t want to do the wrong thing. HELP? Please????
 
Hi Sarah. It's pretty late, so you probably won't be getting any answers till it's morning on the East Coast. All your fears are perfectly normal for someone who is just starting the FD dance. If you are more comfortable with the SLGS method, that's fine. There are others on this board that are following it.

Regarding your meter issues, I've never used a control solution, so I can't help you. Hopefully someone else will be along to do that.

As for your spreadsheet, use the same one. Just make either a note in the comments or draw a thick line across where you switch meters. You can create a row in between by highlighting the row you want to be below the new one and clicking on INSERT, then Insert a Row Above.

As I think I told you on FB, I live in Suisun City, so if you need someone to come up and help you with testing, I'm happy to do so.
 
Thank you so much. That is really terribly kind of you. I will let you know. In the morning, I will be checking with some local vets on availability of alphatrak strips until I can get the right control solution for the Relion meter.
 
FWIW, Amazon has AlphaTrack2 strips. If you are a Prime member, you'll get them in 2 days.

Sarah & Jackie said:
The more I am reading, the more unsure of myself I am becoming. I'm sorry to be so dense and needy bit I feel like I need further advice as to how I should proceed with getting useful information. To get a couple of initial guiding cycles, what would the suggestions be about how often to feed and how much in relation to tests, and how frequent should those tests be? Should I completely with hold/delay some feedings, and how do I know which ones, if so?
Click to expand...

I think for the moment, part of what makes Jackie's SS hard to interpret is you've not been able to get many spot checks. No matter how good you are at reading a SS, it's hard to draw conclusions with only a little bit of data. Generally, it's best to not feed your cat after nadir -- there's less insulin available later in the cycle to offset the effect of food. You want to have enough tests so you know when your cat's onset and nadir typically fall and how much duration your getting. That usually means getting a curve every so often. Please keep in mind, though, that these are not static points -- the nadir can change.

As for feeding, I would suggest initially dividing up the usual amount of food for the cycle and feeding Jackie in at least 3 installments before nadir. For many cats, how you feed ends up depending on how they react to insulin. (For example, Gabby usually has early nadirs. As a result, I feed at pre-shot, +1 and +2 and sometimes +3 since this helps to prop up her numbers.)

The frequency with which you test depends on your cat and the cycle, as well. I don't test a treat deal past the early part of the cycle. This is because Gabby has an early nadir (and because I leave for work on weekdays). I like to suggest getting a +2 or +3 test routinely. If the +2 number is considerably lower than your pre-shot, there's a good chance it will be an active cycle.

The only time you want to not feed is if you are stalling giving a shot. If you get a low pre-shot test number and want to wait to see if the numbers are rising, then you want to refrain from feeding. Otherwise, the only time you don't want to feed is between +10 and your pre-shot test. These are times when food can influence the pre-shot test.

 
Sienne and Gabby said:
That usually means getting a curve every so often.
Click to expand...

That is what I am asking about, I guess. When getting a curve complete, should food be given only within first few hours after his shot since I don't yet know when his nadir, and onset are or the duration? Should I be testing every hour or every 2 or......?
 
The only time feeding matters is when you're trying to decide about giving a shot, and as Sienne mentions, most cats do better with most of the food in the first half of the cycle. I fed punkin 1 can of fancy feast at preshot and 1/2 can at +3, every day, both am and pm cycles. After that, I usually just gave him tiny bits of cooked chicken breast as pokey treats or if he was too hungry in the second half of the cycle.

You have a couple of options for a curve - you can test every 2 hours for 12 hrs or every 3 hours for 18 hrs. Either one is ok and you just feed as normal during the curve. More information will help you know how to proceed.

About your meter - are you using strips for the Confirm in the Confirm meter? Like Tricia, I never used a control solution. Just bought the strips and used them. Stay with the same spreadsheet and just insert a line and label it something so we know you've switched meters. "Relion Confirm below this line" or something like that.

Don't worry one bit about asking too many questions. It's like that for every person starting new. There is a ton to learn about FD - just ask away.
 
Thank you. So, no need then for every hour, even early in the cycle? Yes, I am using Confirm strips with Confirm meter. When I called customer service, that was also the information I gave them and they seem to have sent the wrong control solution. About to call them now and ask.
 
If you are doing a curve test every 2 or 3 hours throughout the cycle. Otherwise, test at preshot always, try to get a mid-cycle and if you can manage it a +2 test should show you where the cycle is headed.

Remember that it is Saturday you may not be able to get in touch w/ customer service. BTW we're in CA too, get in touch if you need help.
 
Hi Sarah.

I'm glad Sienne, Julie and Ann jumped in and answered your questions. They are some of the most knowledgeable people on the Board. Keep asking questions. The only dumb one is the one you don't ask!!

How often you test when you aren't doing an actual curve depends upon your schedule, and your kitty. Some of us test a lot more than others. I personally am a testaholic, but I also do not work outside the home, so I have the luxury, most days, of testing whenever I feel the need. Many people are gone most of the day and have to squeeze tests in before and after work. Lots of people need a good night's sleep, so they don't get a lot of nighttime tests. We use things like alarm clocks and auto feeders to help out - alarms to wake us in the night if Kitty looked like he/she was headed down at our before bed test, and auto feeders if we're gone all day and kitty might drop without food (or if you have one who eats every bite as soon as it's served and doesn't save some for later).

Cinco gets a small meal at his morning pre-shot, and a larger one, with all his supplements in it, around +3 or +4 (when I drag myself out of bed). He gets a small spoonful of food at any other tests before +8, and freezed dried salmon treats if I have to test later in the cycle. At night he gets his bigger meal at shot time, followed by a smaller serving around +3, then the same spoonfuls at any tests until +7 or so, when I hit the sack. If I have to be gone during the middle of his cycle, I set up his autofeeder to turn every 1-2 hours (depending on how low I think he's going and how long I'll be gone). If I think he'll go low, I'll load it with 8% food, and if not, I'll use 3-4%. Again, we all have different schedules. This is what works for me. You'll just have to do a little trial and error to figure out what works for you and Jackie.

By the way, just when you think you have Jackie's pattern figured out, it will change. This is a cat we're talking about, remember! :joyful:
 
The Pet Safe 5 has worked well for a number of people here.
Adding a tablespoon or two of water may help the cat feel full sooner plus maintain hydration.
Freezing part of a meal to be eaten as it thaws works for some folks too.
 
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i also use a "low tech" 2-compartment feeder (Cat Mate C 20) and love it. It comes with a freezer block that fits under the trays and keeps the food cool for a long time. Rusty eats all of his meals from it, using it as a table when we don't need to set the timers (the timers are mechanical, not electronic, so you don't have to program it, just set the timers as you would a kitchen timer).
I wouldn't worry about a test solution. I've never used one either. If you think your meter may not be reading correctly, try it on yourself.

It all gets easier!!

Ella & Rusty
 
Your own BG values should be in the 40-120 mg/dL range, with a slight rise after eating, just like a cat.
 
Well, then testing yourself would be a good way to monitor that; prevention is much easier than treatment in human diabetics!

Also, meters may test +/- 20% from what a lab would get, although they are working to tighten that standard. If you take 2 tests at the same time, the overlap between the 2 tests is where the lab value is likely to lie.
 
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